MONROVIA, CA. (May 3, 1999) - ParaSoft, leading provider of software productivity solutions, announced today that the 5.0 Windows version of their automatic runtime error detection tool, Insure++, will be released on May 10th. This new version offers developers extended error detection capabilities to better accommodate even the largest programs

For years, C and C++ developers have relied on Insure++ to provide them with the most thorough method of detecting errors in their programs. Bill Emshoff, a software developer from a major aerospace company puts if frankly: "Insure++ is the most thorough error detection tool I've ever used. Period."

What makes Insure++ so dependable is that it uses patented Source Code Instrumentation (patent # 5,581,969) and Mutation Testing technologies to pinpoint bugs quickly and precisely, providing all the information necessary to repair the bug. It also uses patented Runtime Pointer Tracking technology (patent # 5,842,019) to automatically take developers to the line of code where they last lost reference to their pointer.

Now, Insure++ offers developers even more ways to efficiently and thoroughly check for errors. Version 5.0 has an added feature that offers three different levels of error-checking, allowing developers to choose the levels of performance and accuracy with which they wish Insure++ to check for errors in their programs. The improved control panel allows users to select from the following configuration options: "Optimal Performance", "Maximum Accuracy", or "Advanced".

"We wanted to give developers the option to customize their error-detection process to emphasize whatever is most important to them at any given time: accuracy, performance, or both," says ParaSoft CEO Dr. Adam Kolawa. "With Insure++ 5.0, they can do quick checks of their code on a daily basis if they wish, and then opt for a more advanced check when they have a little more time."

The new "Optimal Performance" uses Intermediate Code Instrumentation which instruments at an intermediate level and finds overflows, uninitialized variables, and pointers, as well as performs coverage quickly. This level of instrumentation is particularly useful for very large programs because it takes far less time to instrument and uses less memory than instrumenting at source code level. Instrumenting at intermediate level allows developers to do a quick check of their program, fix those errors and then, as they have time, perform a deeper check by instrumenting specific files at source code level.

"We understand that instrumenting a very large program at source code level is sometimes not an option because of the strain on resources," says Kolawa. "That is why this new version is so useful. It allows developers to do a broad, quick search for bugs and then allows them to delve deeper into their code to find additional bugs. Now even the largest programs can be error free."

Selecting "Maximum Accuracy" invokes a source code level of checking. This deeper check performs the most thorough check for a broad range of memory corruption errors, memory leaks, API errors at runtime as well as compile time errors that your compiler may overlook. There is also an "Advanced" option which allows developers to customize configuration options where there is a trade-off between performance and accuracy.

Insure++'s InsureSpy performs runtime error detection automatically. For developers who use Microsoft Visual Studio development systems versions 97 and 6.0, InsureSpy integrates with the Microsoft debugger. This integration gives developers access to automatic runtime error detection plus all the features of the Microsoft debugger simultaneously. When Insure++ is installed, InsureSpy will automatically be invoked whenever an instrumented executable (an .exe file that is built with Insure++) is run through the Microsoft debugger. Users can also configure InsureSpy to be automatically invoked whenever a non-instrumented executable is run through the Microsoft debugger; this configuration is ideal for users who want to perform error detection without compiling or linking with Insure++.

Insure++ also has improved error detection support for software components, including COM objects and NT Services. Insure++ automatically detects errors in these components whether they are implemented in DLLs or in stand-alone executables. In version 5.0, auto detection of certain project types and easy access to Image File Execution Options work together to make debugging COM projects simpler than ever.

Other improvements include more user friendly features, including improvements in the Insure++ control panel, and an improved parser and runtime module allowing Insure++ to work more effectively on a wide variety of C/C++ developments and applications.

Availability

Insure++5.0 will be available for Windows 95,98 and NT beginning May 10th. The UNIX version will be available in June for Linux, SGI, HP, IBM, Sun/Solaris and Dec-Alpha. For more information, visit our website at

About ParaSoft

ParaSoft develops advanced software productivity tools for Windows and UNIX development platforms. ParaSoft's award-winning tools assist developers and managers in improving software quality, accelerating time to market, and reducing development costs. ParaSoft's headquarters is located at 2031 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia, CA 91016. Telephone (888) 305-0041, Fax: (626) 305-3036. Email: info@parasoft.com. URL:

ParaSoft and Insure++^® are registered trademarks of ParaSoft. All brands are registered trademark of their respective holders.
Editor note: Insure++^® screen shots and review copies are available.